‘We sit on the couch and cry’: Patrick Cronin family’s pain laid bare amid compo bid

The Cronin family remains shattered by the sudden death of coward-punch victim Patrick, and now they want compensation. But under cross-examination they were quizzed about a foundation set up in his name and revealed its toll.

Coward punch victim Patrick Cronin’s family has faced off with his killer in a Supreme Court application for compensation over the senseless death.

Patrick’s parents Matt and Robyn, and siblings Emma and Lucas, have each applied for compensation from killer Andrew Lee who is serving a minimum five year term over the 2016 death.

Patrick’s dad, Matt Cronin, was on Thursday quizzed about a foundation set up in Patrick’s name that is aimed at raising awareness of, educating people about, and conducting research into coward punch attacks.

Patrick Cronin on the night he was awarded his second best and fairest award.

Robyn and Matt, parents of Pat Cronin after the sentencing. Picture: Nicole Garmson

Lee’s legal team argued his inevitable compensation payout should be mitigated because of the work Mr Cronin had invested into the foundation.

The court heard it was evidence of the resilience of the Cronin family and should be considered when Justice Lesley Taylor calculated the compensation payable to them.

But Frank Scully, representing the Cronins, told the court: “the establishment of that foundation does not diminish the grief that they experience.”

Killer Andrew Lee before the sentencing.

Andrew Lee arrives at the Supreme Court for his sentence. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Asked about the foundation under cross-examination Mr Cronin said it was a “bittersweet” by-product of Patrick’s death.

“We know we’re making a difference, and we know we’re saving lives, and that’s a good thing, but then we come home and sit on the couch and typically cry,” he said.

“Because this is about Pat, it’s always been about Pat.”

The court heard evidence that each of the Cronin’s now suffered varying degrees of conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic adjustment disorder.

“I think it’s a grief that will never end,” Mr Cronin said.

“To have three children and only have two with us, it’s not right. How do you ever reconcile that?

“No parent should ever have to bury their child, particularly from an act of cowardly violence.

“I go to work … I drive past the road to the Eltham cemetery where Pat lays today. It’s on the way to work, it’s on the way home from work. What’s ever going to change, I’m not sure,” he said.

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PATRICK WAS ‘HEART AND SOUL’ OF FAMILY

Lee was also called to be briefly cross-examined about the state of his financial affairs.

The court heard he had a significant amount of equity in a Diamond Creek property, but had offloaded an investment in St Kilda at a loss.

The court heard his young family could be forced to sell their home depending on the amount of any compensation payout.

Lee was jailed for a maximum eight-year term for killing Patrick, 19, during a pub brawl in 2016.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter only after prosecutors agreed not to pursue a minimum mandatory 10 year term under new laws introduced in 2014 to curb a spate of coward-punch attacks.

Justice Taylor reserved her decision.